Cinnamomum cassia Presl.Cassia Twig Extract.

article content dotArticle Content:

Cassia Twig Cinnamon Twig and Its Modern Popular Uses.

Cassia Twig Extract INCI Name Cinnamomum Cassia Extract CAS 84961-46-6 EINECS ELINCS No 284-635-0 Cinnamon Extract photo picture image Cinnamon bark is a common ingredient in many products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, perfume, soap, lipstick, chewing gum, cough syrup, nasal sprays, and cola drinks. A popular food flavoring, it is valued as one of the world's most important spices. It is also valuable in the treatment of various ailments. Modern herbalists prescribe cinnamon bark as a remedy for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and indigestion. Chinese herbalists recommend it for asthma brought on by cold, some digestive problems, backache, and menstrual problems.

 The medicinal value of the herb is attributed to the oil extracted from the inner bark and leaves. The cinnamon bark harvested from the young branches is primarily used for culinary purposes. In fact, the cinnamon sticks commonly used in cooking are actually pieces of rolled outer bark.

 The active ingredients of the bark contain antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, antispasmodic, and antifungal properties. A study published in 2002 indicates that oil from cinnamon bark inhibits the production of listeriolysin, a protein released by Listeria bacteria that destroys healthy cells.Chinese research has shown cinnamaldehyde, one of the constituents of cinnamon bark, to be sedative and analgesic. Eugenol, another component, contains pain-relieving qualities.

 1.Improve digestive system:Cinnamon bark is helpful in strengthening and supporting a weak digestive system,Research reports that cinnamon bark breaks down fats in the digestive system, making it a valuable digestive aid. It is used to treat nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, acid indigestion, heartburn, lack of appetite, and abdominal disorders.

 2.A traditional stimulant in Chinese medicine:Cinnamon bark has a warming effect on the body and is used for conditions caused by coldness. The twigs of cinnamon enhance circulation, especially to the fingers and toes.

 3.Prevent infection by killing decay:Cinnamon bark contains antiseptic properties that help to prevent infection by killing decay-causing bacteria, fungi, and viruses:One German study showed that the use of cinnamon bark suppressed the cause of most urinary tract infections and the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections. It is also helpful in relieving athlete's foot.

 4.Oral hygiene products material:Cinnamon bark is a frequent ingredient in toothpaste, mouthwash, and other oral hygiene products because it helps kill the bacteria that causes tooth decay and gum disease. Inflammations of the throat and pharynx may be relieved through its use.

 5.Control blood sugar levels in diabetics:Cinnamon bark is also known to control blood sugar levels in diabetics.United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers have found that cinnamon bark may reduce the amount of insulin required for glucose metabolism. A dose of 1/8 to 1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon per meal for diabetic patients may help to regulate their blood sugar levels.

 6.Reputation as an aphrodisiac:A study at the Smell and Taste Research Foundation in Chicago tested medical students' reactions to various aromas by attaching measurement devices to the students' penises. The smell of hot cinnamon buns generated the most blood flow of all the scents.

 7.Cinnamon bark promotes menstruation:It has been used to treat menstrual pain and infertility. Women in India take it as a contraceptive after childbirth.

 8.Other conditions:in which cinnamon bark may be helpful include fevers and colds, coughs and bronchitis, infection and wound healing, some forms of asthma, and blood pressure reduction.

 9.Soothe an upset stomach:Cinnamon extracts have been used medically to treat gastrointestinal problems and to help calm the stomach. Cinnamon is a carminative, an agent that helps break up intestinal gas that has traditionally been used to combat diarrhea and morning sickness. Both test-tube and some animal studies have found that cinnamon may help to relieve mild abdominal discomfort caused by excess gas.

 10.Clear up urinary-tract infections:One German study showed that Cinnamon "suppresses completely" the cause of most urinary-tract infections (Escherichia coli bacteria) and the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections (Candida albicans).

 11.Allow diabetics to use less insulin:Some studies have shown that Cinnamon helps people with diabetes metabolise sugar better. In adult-onset (Type II) diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but the body can't use it efficiently to break down blood sugar.

 Richard Anderson at the US Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland found that Cinnamon enhances the ability of insulin to metabolise glucose, helping to control blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains the anti-oxidant glutathione and a type of flavonoid called MHCP (methylhydroxy chalcone polymer). It is believed that cinnamon makes fat cells much more responsive to insulin, the hormone that regulates sugar metabolism and thus controls the level of glucose in the blood.

 "One-eighth of a teaspoon of cinnamon triples insulin efficiency," say James A. Duke, Ph.D., a botanist retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and author of The CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Dr. Duke suggest that people with adult-onset diabetes discuss Cinnamon's benefits with their doctor. Taking 0.5 to 0.75 teaspoon of ground Cinnamon with each meal may help control blood sugar levels.

 12.Aid digestion:Cinnamon contains compounds called catechins, which help relieve nausea. The volatile oil in cinnamon bark may also help the body to process food by breaking down fats during digestion.

 13.Kill many disease-causing fungi and viruses:Preliminary results from test tube and animal studies suggest that cinnamon oil and cinnamon extract have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-parasitic properties. For example, cinnamon has been found to be active against Candida albicans, the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections and thrush (oral yeast infection), Helicobacter pylori (the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers), and even head lice.

 An incredible experiment in the journal of Food Science for 1974 demonstrated the power of cinnamon over most yeasts and fungi. Slices of white, raisin, rye and whole wheat breads, manufactured without the usual mold inhibitors, were subjected to various aflatoxins, a group of toxic molds so dangerous that they can cause liver cancer and kill humans and animals alike and often occur in food. The toxic molds grew vigorously on all of the other breads, except for the raisin bread where growth was described as being "scant or not visible at all." In trying to identify whether it was the raisins or cinnamon responsible for this, food scientists discovered that as little as 2% or 20 mg. of the spice per ml of a yeast-extract and sucrose broth inhibited 97 -99 per cent of these molds.

 14.Relieve Pain:Cinnamon is considered a pain-killer due to its prostaglandin-inhibiting action.

 15.Relieve Colds and Flu:In both India and Europe, cinnamon has been traditionally taken as a warming herb for "cold" conditions, often in combination with ginger (Zingiber officinale). The herb stimulates the circulation, especially to the fingers and toes and has been used for arthritis. Cinnamon is also a traditional remedy for aching muscles and other symptoms of viral conditions such as colds and flue.

 16.More recently:cinnamon bark has been shown to be an effective natural snake repellent that is safer to use than synthetic pest management chemicals.
 Cassia Twig Extract INCI Name Cinnamomum Cassia Extract CAS 84961-46-6 EINECS ELINCS No 284-635-0 Cinnamon Extract photo picture image

 Pharmacology:

 Bi-directional regulatory effects on body temperature:
 Gui Zhi and Shao Yao used together have a unidirectional effect of raising body temperature.

 Protective effects against myocardial ischemia/re-perfusion damages:

 Research shows that cinnamic acid, an active component of Gui Zhi, has the following effects: 1) raising the recovery rate of the maximum per-stroke output index after myocardial ischemia and re-perfusion, 2) increasing the coronary flow after re-perfusion, 3) decreasing the leakage of LDH and CPK from cytosomes, 4) reduce the MDA content in myocardial tissues after re-perfusion, and 5) raising the activity of GSH. The distillation of Gui Zhi (1.5ml/L) can reduce the number of incidences of re-perfusion ventricular fibrilation. It also can improve various cardiac functions, such as recovering the heart rate, and increasing the maximum ventricular systole speed, the function index of the left ventricle, and the intake of cardiac muscles.

 Treating viral polymyositis:

 In one experiment, 40 guinea pig models of Coxsackie virus B1-induced polymyositis induced by Coxsackie virus B1 were randomly divided into 3 groups and treated as follows: group A (15 guinea pigs) was treated with Cai Hu, group B (15 guinea pigs) was treated with Gui Zhi, and group C (10 guinea pigs) served as a control group. The results showed that the symptoms, mylkinase spectrum, and pathological changes of both groups A and B had significantly improved, while those of group C had deteriorated, indicating that Cai Hu and Gui Zhi have a therapeutic effect on polymyositis in mice.

 Inhibitory effects on bacterial plaques:

 One study treated 60 cases of bacterial plaque with the distillation of Gui Zhi, and reported a 44.60% decrease in bacterial plaque index. Furthermore, the distillation of Gui Zhi has styptic and analgesic effects on patients with odontopathy.

 Invigorating pulse:

 Experiments show that Gui Zhi can significantly promote temperature and microcirculation recovery in mice of blood stasis due to cold. This effect of Gui Zhi is more pronounced than that of Dan Shen.

Last PageNext Page

Reference:

citations1.Cinnamomum cassia Presl.Cassia Twig Extract.

last edit date:25th,May.2009.